Step Right – Greg Laurie Devotion – May 02, 2026

Biblical Context

The First Letter of John was written by the Apostle John, one of Jesus’s closest disciples. He wrote this letter towards the end of the first century, likely from Ephesus. His audience was a community of believers facing confusion and challenges from false teachers, often called Gnostics, who denied the true humanity of Jesus and emphasized secret knowledge over righteous living. John’s purpose was to give his readers confidence in their faith, to help them discern truth from error, and to encourage them to live out the practical implications of knowing God. He focuses on core truths: God is light, God is love, and knowing Him means obeying His commands and loving one another. This letter isn’t about complex theology as much as it is about the everyday reality of a genuine relationship with God. It helps you understand what a real walk with God looks like and how you can be sure of your faith.

Key Word Study

Let’s look at the word “live” in 1 John 2:6: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” The Greek word used here for “live” is περιπατέω (peripateō). While it literally means “to walk around” or “to walk about,” in the New Testament, especially in John’s writings and Paul’s, it’s used in a deeper, more figurative sense. It means to conduct one’s life, to behave, to order one’s course of life, or to live. So, when John says we should “live in God” and “live our lives as Jesus did,” he’s not just talking about physical movement. He’s talking about your entire lifestyle, your choices, your actions, and your character – everything you do and are. It’s about letting your whole life reflect the presence of God within you, just like Jesus’s life perfectly showed who God is.

Staying in Step with God

I have a problem, and maybe you do too, though it might show up in a different way. When I walk with my wife, I always walk a little faster than she does. Every time we go out together, I find myself walking ahead of her. I have to stop and wait for her to catch up. I make a conscious effort to walk more slowly—at least for a while. But the next thing I know, I’m walking fast again. It’s a real challenge for me to keep pace with her.

Many believers face a similar challenge when it comes to walking with God. Some people want to run ahead of Him. They grow impatient waiting for Him to answer a prayer or reveal His will, so they take matters into their own hands. They rush forward, convinced they know the best path. Other people lag behind Him. They’re reluctant to act when He prompts them. They’re hesitant to step outside their comfort zone without two weeks’ advance notice. They wait and wait, missing opportunities because they’re slow to move.

Our goal should be to move in harmony with the Lord. We need to stay close to Him and adjust our steps so that they match His. Imagine a dance where you’re perfectly synchronized with your partner; that’s the picture. We’re not meant to lead, and we’re not meant to drag our feet. We’re meant to move with Him.

Enoch: An Example of Walking with God

Think about Enoch. He’s listed in the Faith Hall of Fame, as you can see in Hebrews 11:5. Yet we know little about him beyond this note in Genesis 5:22 (nkjv), which is repeated in verse 24: “Enoch walked with God.” That’s it. No great miracles recorded, no long speeches, just that simple phrase. But that phrase means everything. It means his whole life was in alignment with God’s. He kept pace.

Keeping in Step with the Spirit

Referring to our daily relationship with God’s Holy Spirit, the apostle Paul wrote, “Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25 niv). This isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a practical guide for how we live our Christian lives. It’s a clear call to action for every believer.

But what does that mean in practice? How do we do it? What does it look like to “keep in step with the Spirit”? It means that we prioritize the things of God. It means that when we get up in the morning, we take time to read the Bible. If we neglect the Word of God, it will show in our lives. You’ll feel it, and others might see it too. Keeping in step with the Spirit also means that we spend time in fellowship with God’s people. We need each other to grow and to stay strong in our faith.

Living as Jesus Did

The apostle John put it this way: “Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6 nlt). In short, make time for the things of God. Be proactive in your walk with the Lord. Don’t wait for spare time simply to materialize. It rarely does. Be deliberate about carving out room in your schedule. If it means one less hour of sleep, so be it. If it means delaying a meal, put your appetite on hold. If it means missing a television program, deal with it. Do what you need to do because these things are essential to spiritual growth, to abiding with God, and to bearing spiritual fruit.

Never lose sight of what a privilege it is to walk with the Lord. Any sacrifice you have to make for the sake of that walk will be well worth it. Your walk with God will bring indescribable richness to your daily life. It’s a journey that pays off in ways you can’t even imagine right now.